.357 mag mould needed...

[FN in MT]

But WHAT I don't know! Over the past 45 yrs...I shoot very little .357 mag but a lot of .38 Specials. If I want more poop than the .38's I tend to pass over the .357 mag and go directly to the .41 or .44 etc.

Recently fell into a new M-627 PC S&W 8 shooter that is a tack driver and seems to be very tolerant of lead...zero leading with anything I have fed it.

My only .358" moulds are the #358429 which is too long in the nose for crimping in the crimp groove for the short N frame cylinder...and a #357446 162 gr which would work in a mag case for OAL. The 357446 is unfortunately a 2 cav mould.... so SLOW.

I had the thought of getting a 4 cav #358156. The old Thompson design that Skeeter Skelton wrote up all the time. But hate the thought of GAS CHECKS...especially considering WHAT GC's cost now! And I'd have to drag out the old Lyman and use that iinstead of the STAR to lube the slugs.

I want to stay in the 150-170 gr area if I could as this will get more long range use at steel than close in. And would like a PB mould to be used at 1100 to 1200 fps max.

A 4 cav of the #357446 would probably work OK but I was concerned about the small lube grooves on that design.

4 cav steel or brass only...NO aluminum. What do you guys think??

FN in MT

[Farmall 1066]

How about the Lyman 358477? Not sure if that would be too long or not. IIRC, they worked just fine in my M19 when seated to the crimp groove.

My first choice is the Lee 358158RF, in a 6 hole mold, but since you don't want aluminum, it kinda rules that out.

Andy

[Ole]

Lee RNFP in either 125 or 158 grain flavor.

Go with the heavier one if you are going with a full-power load.

(sorry missed the part where you said no aluminum). Please ignore this post.

[FN in MT]

How about the Lyman 358477? Not sure if that would be too long or not. IIRC, they worked just fine in my M19 when seated to the crimp groove.

My first choice is the Lee 358158RF, in a 6 hole mold, but since you don't want aluminum, it kinda rules that out.

Andy

The K frame mag cyls are the longest in the S&W line. MY issue is for an N frame.
I think the 358477 would work though. Took a look at it in my old Lyman book. An option...Thanks.

FN in MT

[JRR]

I am able to load the "Keith" boolit for my mod. 28 by simply segregating a batch of brass, trimming off .010" and marking them as short trimmed. Just clears, but with a good crimp works just fine.
Jeff

[PacMan]

Not sure why you shun alum. molds but that is your choice.If you change your mind the options are unlimited.
Why do you think you canot use a Star sizer with a GC bullet. Many including myself do it all the time.
There is a post that i made yesterday and should now be on page of Cast Boolits two maybe three showing results of a LBT bullet oith PB and GC both sized in a Star sizer. It is titled S&W 10-15. Should have been 60-15 but i fat fingered it.

[Mike W1]

The 358477 works just fine in my .357. Seems like I read it was developed just for that crimping groove problem.

[theperfessor]

Well, the OP did say he wanted to clang steel (not hunt) and didn't want aluminum (steel and brass only) and didn't say he was only interested in SWCs, although he cited two examples of SWC designs, so I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest he try some 358311 bullets to see how they shoot.

[FN in MT]

The 358477 works just fine in my .357. Seems like I read it was developed just for that crimping groove problem.

I think for right now thats what I'm going to play with. I had more of the 358477 than I thought I had. I was concerned as the lube grooves seemed so minimal...but so far at 950 fps my slugs leave me with a barrel clean as a whistle.

Anyone got some #358311's they wouldn't mind sending out? RN is fine with me.

FN in MT

[EDK]

Lower priced six cavity mould...obviously LEE...358 158 round nose flat point...it ought to work in moon clips or speed loaders too. (I've got the four cavity LYMAN version...used it for years.)

NIGHT OWL ENTERPRISES...their version of 358477 OR 358156 in plain base...I ordered my five banger as four plain base/one gas check cavity.

Oops..no aluminum moulds desired. OK....NOE 360 180 Wide Flat Nose....group buy for four cavity brass going on right now...get it in plain base or three pb/1 GC. (I need to dust off my early edition 627 six shot version...one heavy mother to carry, but zip recoil.) I have the aluminum five cavity NOE and shoot a fair amount of them in 5.5 inch Original Size VAQUEROS and a couple of MARLIN Cowboy Rifles.

ACCURATE MOULDS now makes brass four bangers...nice catalog to select from and super delivery time, per the guys here.

:redneck::cbpour::Fire:

[FN in MT]

Lower priced six cavity mould...obviously LEE...358 158 round nose flat point...it ought to work in moon clips or speed loaders too. (I've got the four cavity LYMAN version...used it for years.)

NIGHT OWL ENTERPRISES...their version of 358477 OR 358156 in plain base...I ordered my five banger as four plain base/one gas check cavity.

Oops..no aluminum moulds desired. OK....NOE 360 180 Wide Flat Nose....group buy for four cavity brass going on right now...get it in plain base or three pb/1 GC. (I need to dust off my early edition 627 six shot version...one heavy mother to carry, but zip recoil.) I have the aluminum five cavity NOE and shoot a fair amount of them in 5.5 inch Original Size VAQUEROS and a couple of MARLIN Cowboy Rifles.

ACCURATE MOULDS now makes brass four bangers...nice catalog to select from and super delivery time, per the guys here.

:redneck::cbpour::Fire:

EDK...Curse You...yet ANOTHER GB to drain my disposible income! The BRASS NOE 360 180 WFN looks like a winner. And I have a hundred of them in stock to try. I've loaded them in the past for a friend's Carbine and they worked well. I'll do some load work on what I have.....then most likely get in on the GB. Maybe go 4 cav with two PB and two GC.

Wind died down today so I can chrono the 358477 loads I already have loaded up. I'll load a few of the 180 WFNGC's I have as well.

Thanks to ALL for the many good suggestions.

FN in MT

[MtGun44]

358477 150 gr older version is a WONDERFUL design. I have two 4 cav molds and a couple of
2 cavs and it is a personal favorite.

Bill

[Down South]

I have a couple variations of the 358429 moulds. The boolits fit well with my GP-100 but accuracy was not great. I found that a round nose boolit compared to the Keith style gave me better accuracy. I bought a mould off of MiHec, 359-640 that shoots straight. This boolit has the dual crimp grooves and should fit any .357 revolver you want to shoot them in.

On edit, the 359-460 is a PB HP boolit. I "think" that Mihec makes a brass 4-cavity version. Mine is a 2-cavity.

[Wally]

I have a couple variations of the 358429 moulds. The boolits fit well with my GP-100 but accuracy is not great. I found that a round nose boolit compared to the Keith style gave me better accuracy. I bought a mould off of MiHec, 359-640 that shoots straight. This boolit has the dual crimp grooves too but should fit any .357 revolver you want to shoot them in.

Have you ever tried a Lyman 358311 158 grain RN?

[HeavyMetal]

another vote for the 358477 just got a 4 banger and very happy with it and it's very similar to the RCBS150 KT, which I still own, and the old Saeco 3 banger I sold when I got the Lyman!

Any of these would fit the bill for you.

If Lee had made the 125 and the 158 RF boolit earlier I would have bought one of these years ago. With minor care the 6 bangers are a heck of a deal for the money

[hedgehorn]

has anyone used this mold here? I have one that I have used with my smith model 19 with good results in 38 special.

[Artful]

Lyman 358311 used in 9mm subsonic, 38 spl, 357 mag, 358 WCF - as long as you don't over speed it it's very accurate - not much of a killer though - zips thru rabbits and such so you have to hit the spine of head shoot.